Soccer — Northwestern State falls in overtime at ULM, 2-1

MONROE – Despite Northwestern State controlling the first 60 minutes of play, ULM mounted a late charge to hand the Lady Demons a 2-1 overtime loss on Friday.

The Warhawks (3-3) scored two goals in the last 18 minutes of the match to top NSU for the third straight season.

Senior Kelly O’Dwyer headed a ball inside the near post midway through the first overtime for the game-winner. The assist came from Karlea Fehr, one of several Warhawks who played multiple balls into the box in the last 30 minutes of the match.

ULM’s Mariah Mitchell provided the equalizer with just 12:47 left in regulation. A ball popped out beyond the box on a rebound, and Mitchell blasted a shot to the bottom left-hand corner of the net.

“We prepared really well for ULM, but credit to them because we started playing their style in the second half,” said NSU coach George Van Linder. “We got away from doing what we do best, and that’s what’s unfortunate for us as a team.

“ULM can’t play the way we play, but we shouldn’t have tried to play the way they do either. It’s disappointing to say the least.”

NSU (2-2-1) outshot ULM 15-13 for the match, but the Lady Demons held a 7-2 edge at halftime. After halftime, ULM took 11 shots (and all seven of their on-goal attempts) to NSU’s eight (four of its seven on goal).

The Lady Demons owned the first half, and freshman Brittany Caserma provided the first-half goal off an assist by Payton Roney with 22:53 left.

Roney placed a ball to Caserma on the left side, and Caserma knifed a shot through the hands of ULM freshman goal keeper Julia Isdalis Gonzalez. Caserma has three goals this season, and combined with four goals from freshman Kayeligh Phillips, the two rookies contributed seven of NSU’s 10 goals through five matches.

“The goals we scored here and throughout the year, it’s been about putting pressure on their backline,” Van Linder said. “We hope they make mistakes and we capitalize on them.

“For the most part we have been doing that, but today we had good chances but couldn’t capitalize and they did.”

Junior midfielder Camila Ardila and sophomore forward Esdeina Gonzalez had impressive combination moments, and they accounted for a total of four shots and two on goal not including several onsides penalties that wiped away chances. Gonzalez particularly tested the ULM defense with her shots but couldn’t find her first goal after scoring a team-high seven this past season.

Junior defender Patry Carrion also threatened with three free kicks. Carrion was one of several players who struck the crossbar or a post with shots. Caserma and senior midfielder Cassandra Briscoe attempted three shots each.

Sophomore goal keeper Alex Latham (0-2-1) takes the loss after playing the second half and overtime. Latham made five saves in a half where ULM controlled the pace, including saving two shots in one-on-one-situations following lob passes into the box.

Senior goal keeper Brooke Bourbonais logged her fourth scoreless half this season playing in the first half. She didn’t log any saves as NSU dominated possession.

The Lady Demons will play the last match of their five-game road trip Sunday at UL Lafayette at 1 p.m. before returning to the Lady Demon Soccer Complex on Tuesday to host Alcorn State at 7 p.m.